transpa.rent truth and noble candour. When it became known through the land that Ahimelech and the priests had been killed by the king's order on a mere suspicion of disaffection which was false, a thrill of horror must have run through many bosoms, and those who feared the Lord must have had sore misgiving that he had forsaken his people and his land. Under such mishaps in later times similar fears have been awakened. Indeed men have been tempted to question whether there be any God of righteousness and truth actually governing the world ; for the virtuous suffer, the innocent are crushed, might overrules right, victory seems to be to the proud and not the lowly. It is useless to deny that there are strange defeats of goodness and truth, and that blows fall on heads that seem least to deserve them. All that we- can do is to cleave to our belief, firm on its own grounds, that God is, and to say that the calamities complained of have his permission for some good ends in bis far- reaching purpose. At all events we can go no further into the mystery on a survey of this present life. But there is another, and in it lies the abundant recompense for present wrongs. It seems strange that a life so precious as that of Paul should !,ave been assailed, bruised, and finally taken by violence for no crime, but for the name of Jesus. But Paul himself has given us some clue to the compensation: "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketb for us a far more excecrling and eternal weight of glory." Ahimelech and the priests, we may be sure, though they suffered not directly for Christ, but on account of his human ancestor, lost nothing, but gained much, by forfeiting their lives in innocence. IV. DAVID AND HIS SELF-REPROACH. News of this massacre must have shocked all thoughtful men in Israel, and deepened the distrust with which Saul was now regarded. David, when he heard of it, felt, besides horror and indignation, a bitter pang of self- reproach. It was he who had played on the simplicity of the priests at Nob, and so- had given occasion to Doeg to accuse them. Would that he had gone without bread, whatever the consequence to himself, rather than have exposed so many innocent persons to such a cruel fate! And now the horrid deed was done, and quite past remedy. What a lesson against crafty strokes and plausible pretexts I One may gain his point at the time by such devices, but after consequences little expected may fall on some innocent head ; and surely there is no sting so sharp in the con- science of an honourable roan as the feeling that, for his own safety or interPst, he has misled his own friends, and unwittingly brought disaster on them. We can believe that David, on bearing what Abiathar told him, was bowed down with shame such ns he never yet had needed to feel. In this respect be failed to typify Christ. Our Lord had no self-reproach to bear. He never had recourse to subterfuge, and no- guile was found in his mouth. Those who have suffered for bis sake have not been led into the risk of death unwittingly. It was of some comfort to David that he could give protection to Abiathar. "He that seeketh my lifeseeketh thy life." \Ve have a common enemy. Thy life is in peril on my account; therefore stay with me; "thou sbalt be in safeguard." Here we do seem to hear the voice of Christ in a figure. "If the world hate you, ye know," &c. (John xv. 18-20). Our Lord gives his people Aafeguard with himself. " Abide in me." "Continue in my love." Such words are dear to mourners. As David gave to Abiathar immediate and sym- pathetic attention, so the Son of David hearkens nt once to those who repair to him with the tale of their mishap and grief. He will take them all under the guarantee of his faithful safeguard. \Vhatever solace it is possible to have in this world they have who abide with him And no one can pluck them out of I is hand.-F.
EXPOSITION. ADVENTURES OF DAVID AT KEILAH AND IN THE WILDERNESS 01!' ZIPH (ea. XXIII.)'.
CHAPTER XXIII. his own land was quickly followed by ex- ploits which not only increased his power, DAVID Rll.S0UES KEILAH, BUT HAS TO but turned the eyes of all the people towards ESOAPE FROM THE TREAOHBP.Y OF ITS IN· him as their protector. His first success BADITANTS (vers. 1-13). Yer. 1.-They was the deliYerance of the city of Keilah told David, &c. The rctnrn of Da l'i,\ into r, 111 a bo,ly of Philistines who were pluo· 132 THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. [CH. XXIII. 1-18,